Most Important Biotechnology Quiz Test Online

Biotechnology Quiz Test Online

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Biotechnology Test. 1

1 / 20

1) How are DNA probes made detectable in a diagnostic test?

They are attached to large metal particles

They are stained with a colored protein dye

They are made radioactive

They naturally glow when bound to DNA

The text clearly states that a probe is 'either radioactive or fluorescent' to make its location detectable.

2 / 20

2) The creation of an antigen from a cloned gene is a direct application of what technology?

Polymerase Chain Reaction

Recombinant DNA technology

Gene Therapy

DNA Sequencing

Producing a protein (antigen) from a foreign gene inserted into a host is the central principle of recombinant DNA technology.

3 / 20

3) What is a 'genomic library'?

A collection of clones containing an organism's entire genome

A stock of a single cloned gene with millions of copies

A digital database of all known protein sequences

A single chromosome carefully preserved from an organism

This is the precise definition provided in the text: a collection of clones containing particular segments of DNA from a source.

4 / 20

4) What technique allows for the analysis of a minuscule DNA sample from a crime scene?

Anther culture

Gene therapy

Polymerase Chain Reaction

Gel electrophoresis

The text highlights that PCR is used to amplify DNA several times, making it possible to analyze even very small samples.

5 / 20

5) What enzyme is deficient in patients with SCID who undergo *ex vivo* gene therapy?

DNA ligase

Taq polymerase

Restriction endonuclease

Adenosine deaminase

The text clearly identifies that children with SCID lack the enzyme 'adenosine deaminase (ADA)'.

6 / 20

6) What is the main function of a DNA probe in disease diagnosis?

To replicate a segment of DNA millions of times

To carry a therapeutic gene into a patient's cells

To cut the patient's DNA at specific sites

To find and bind with a complementary DNA strand

A probe is a single-stranded nucleotide sequence designed to hybridize (pair) with a specific piece of DNA, allowing for its detection.

7 / 20

7) Which of these is a primary method used in biotechnology to produce vaccines?

Weakening a virus by exposing it to heat

Amplifying the entire viral genome using PCR

Synthesizing a specific antigen using a cloned gene

Extracting antibodies from recovered patients

The text lists three methods for vaccine development, one of which is the 'synthesis of an antigen with the help of a cloned gene'.

8 / 20

8) What are 'sticky ends'?

The telomeres at the ends of a chromosome

The circular shape of a bacterial plasmid

The primers used to start a PCR reaction

Complementary single-stranded ends of cut DNA

The text describes sticky ends as single-stranded projected ends that result from a staggered cut by a restriction enzyme.

9 / 20

9) What is the term for using transgenic farm animals to produce pharmaceuticals?

Gene therapy

Cloning

Gene pharming

Bioleaching

The text explicitly defines 'gene pharming' as 'the use of transgenic farm animals to produce pharmaceuticals'.

10 / 20

10) What is the most common approach in gene therapy for correcting a faulty gene?

Removing the faulty gene entirely from all cells

Swapping the abnormal gene with a normal one

Inserting a normal gene into a nonspecific location

Using specific drugs to reactivate the faulty gene

The text states that the most common approach is when a 'normal gene may be inserted into a nonspecific location within the genome to replace a non-functional gene'.

11 / 20

11) Which of these is NOT listed as a product of genetic engineering for disease treatment?

Antithrombin III

Human insulin

Human growth hormone

Quinine

Quinine is mentioned as a product of plant cell suspension cultures, but not as a product of genetic engineering for disease treatment in the same context as the others.

12 / 20

12) Besides complete antigens, what smaller synthesized molecules can also be used as vaccines?

Plasmids

Peptides

Liposomes

Protoplasts

The text mentions that the 'synthesis of peptides to be used as vaccines' is one of the three main biotechnological approaches.

13 / 20

13) What is a 'vector' in gene therapy?

A protein product made by the new gene

A carrier molecule, like a virus, to deliver a gene

The faulty gene that is being replaced

The bone marrow stem cells that receive the gene

The text defines a vector as a 'carrier molecule' used to deliver the therapeutic gene, with a virus being the most common example.

14 / 20

14) According to the text, PCR can be used as a tool to diagnose which conditions?

Antibody concentrations after vaccination

Blood sugar levels and nutritional deficiencies

Viral infections, genetic disorders, and cancer

A patient's blood type and pH levels

The text explicitly lists that PCR can be used to 'diagnose viral infections, genetic disorders, and cancer'.

15 / 20

15) The unique patterns of DNA fragments used in DNA fingerprinting are known as:

Palindromic Sequences

Plasmids

cDNA

RFLPs

The text defines 'restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLPs)' as the unique collection of different sized fragments that exists between individuals.

16 / 20

16) Which tool of biotechnology is known as 'molecular scissors'?

DNA ligase

DNA polymerase

Restriction endonucleases

Plasmids

The text explicitly names restriction enzymes (endonucleases) as the 'molecular scissors' used to cut DNA.

17 / 20

17) How is the gene for cystic fibrosis delivered in the *in vivo* therapy trial described?

By using a particle gun on the respiratory tract

By spraying liposomes into the patient's nostrils

By injecting a viral vector into the blood

By transplanting genetically modified lung cells

This is the exact *in vivo* method detailed in the text, where liposomes carrying the gene are sprayed into the patient's nostrils.

18 / 20

18) What marketable vaccine is explicitly mentioned as being a product of transgenic bacteria?

Polio vaccine

Tetanus vaccine

MMR vaccine

Hepatitis B vaccine

The text explicitly lists the 'hepatitis B vaccine' as a biotechnology product produced by bacteria that is now on the market.

19 / 20

19) In vaccine development, what is the role of monoclonal antibodies?

To diagnose the disease before vaccination

To act as the main ingredient in the vaccine

To prepare a pure antigen for the vaccine

To deliver a cloned gene into bacteria

The text states that one method of vaccine development is the 'preparation of a pure antigen using a specific monoclonal antibody'.

20 / 20

20) What is the purpose of creating 'frost-minus' bacteria?

To increase the fertility of frozen soil

To act as a novel type of insecticide

To clean up oil spills in cold climates

To protect plants from ice crystal formation

The text explains these bacteria were changed from 'frost-plus to frost-minus' to prevent the formation of ice crystals on plants.

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Biotechnology Test. 2

1 / 20

1) The Taq polymerase used in PCR is extracted from what organism?

A common bacteriophage

The intestinal bacterium *E. coli*

The bacterium *Thermus aquaticus*

A species of baking yeast

The text explicitly names *Thermus aquaticus*, a bacterium from hot springs, as the source of the temperature-tolerant Taq polymerase.

2 / 20

2) The pest-resistance gene known as the Bt gene comes from what source?

A virus

A fungus

A bacterium

A different pest-resistant plant

The text identifies the 'bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis' as the source of the Bt genes that code for insect toxins.

3 / 20

3) Gene therapy for familial hypercholesterolemia targets which problem?

A defective blood clotting factor gene

Liver cells lacking a cholesterol receptor

A faulty CFTR gene in lung cells

A lack of the ADA enzyme in immune cells

The text explains this condition develops when 'liver cells lack a receptor for removing cholesterol from the blood'.

4 / 20

4) How is a foreign gene typically introduced when creating a transgenic animal?

By injecting it into donor eggs before fertilization

By feeding it to the host mother during pregnancy

By injecting it into an adult animal's bloodstream

By adding it to the animal's milk after birth

The text and accompanying diagram show that 'DNA containing the gene of interest is injected into donor eggs' as a key step.

5 / 20

5) What was the main scientific significance of cloning the sheep Dolly from an adult cell?

Proving adult cell genes can be reprogrammed for full development

Creating a method to produce industrial bioplastics

Showing asexual reproduction is more efficient

Confirming any 2n nucleus could be put into a sheep egg

The success with Dolly showed that all genes of a mature, specialized adult cell could be turned on again to direct full development, a feat previously thought impossible.

6 / 20

6) What is the function of DNA ligase?

It acts as a carrier for a foreign gene

It cuts plasmid DNA at specific sites

It synthesizes a new strand of DNA

It seals foreign DNA into a vector

The text describes DNA ligase as 'molecular glue' that joins the gene of interest with the vector DNA by forming phosphodiester linkages.

7 / 20

7) Which product is used to treat the blood clotting disorder hemophilia?

Tissue plasminogen activator

Human growth hormone

Haemophilia factor VIII

Insulin

The text lists 'haemophilia factor VIII' as one of the biotechnology products produced by transgenic bacteria for treatment.

8 / 20

8) A gene inserted into corn roots to protect against pests codes for what product?

An insect toxin

A frost-preventing protein

A herbicide resistance enzyme

A growth hormone

The text states the gene codes for an 'insect toxin', which protects the plant's roots from insects.

9 / 20

9) Besides a plasmid, what else can be used as a vector to insert a gene into bacteria?

A microneedle

A liposome

A plant protoplast

DNA from a bacterial virus

The text explains that the DNA of bacterial viruses, like the lambda phage, can be used as a vector to carry foreign genes into bacteria.

10 / 20

10) What is a key advantage of using meristem culture for plant propagation?

The resulting plants are haploid

The resulting plants are always genetically different

It is the best method for cereal grains

The resulting plants are virus-free

The text states that a key advantage is that the 'meristem, unlike other portions of a plant, is virus free, therefore the plants produced are also virus free'.

11 / 20

11) Why are bacterial cells treated with calcium chloride before introducing a plasmid?

To kill any untransformed bacteria

To make the plasmid radioactive

To activate the DNA ligase enzyme

To make their membranes more permeable

The text states that bacterial cells are treated with calcium chloride to 'make them more permeable' for the uptake of the recombinant plasmid.

12 / 20

12) What happened when a tobacco plant was engineered with the firefly luciferase gene?

It developed the ability to grow in salty soil

It became resistant to all common insects

It grew to three times its normal size

It glowed when sprayed with luciferin

The text uses this as a classic example where the expression of the foreign gene resulted in the adult plants glowing when sprayed with the substrate luciferin.

13 / 20

13) Which was the first human chromosome to be fully sequenced?

Chromosome 1

X chromosome

Chromosome 22

Y chromosome

The text states that the 'DNA sequence of human chromosome no. 22...was completed in 1999', making it the first to be seen in its entirety.

14 / 20

14) What does the term 'totipotency' describe?

A specific type of palindromic DNA sequence

The ability of a single plant cell to form a whole organism

The process of crossing different plant varieties

The uptake of foreign DNA by a host cell

The text defines 'totipotency' as the phenomenon where plant cells 'have the capacity to regenerate into whole plants'.

15 / 20

15) What is a 'protoplast'?

A plant cell with its cell wall removed

An undifferentiated mass of plant cells

An encapsulated 'artificial seed'

A mature pollen grain for anther culture

This is the correct definition given in the text. Removing the cell wall makes it easier to introduce foreign DNA.

16 / 20

16) In DNA analysis, what does gel electrophoresis do?

It separates DNA fragments based on their length

It cuts DNA into many small fragments

It makes millions of copies of DNA fragments

It transfers DNA fragments onto a membrane

The text explains that during gel electrophoresis, 'the fragments can be separated according to their lengths (molecular weight or size)'.

17 / 20

17) Which of these is NOT a stated application of PCR?

Diagnosing viral infections

Studying evolutionary history

Identifying criminals in forensic labs

Producing therapeutic proteins like insulin

Producing proteins requires gene cloning and expression in a host system (like bacteria), not just PCR. PCR makes copies of DNA, it does not synthesize proteins.

18 / 20

18) What is the benefit of making crops resistant to a broad-spectrum herbicide?

It makes the crops grow twice as fast

It allows for killing weeds without harming the crop

It makes the crops produce their own fertilizer

It enhances the flavor of the final food product

The text explains that if crops are resistant and weeds are not, 'the herbicide can be used to kill the weeds,' which simplifies weed control.

19 / 20

19) What is the initial chromosomal state of plants produced via anther culture?

Haploid

Identical to the parent

Virus-free

Herbicide-resistant

The text states that anther culture begins with haploid tube cells from pollen grains, which develop into 'haploid embryos' and then haploid plants.

20 / 20

20) Which of the following was a primary goal of the Human Genome Project?

To create a perfect human clone

To cure all known genetic diseases

To construct a genetic map of each chromosome

To prove all human DNA is identical

The text lists constructing a 'genetic map of the human genome' as the first primary goal.

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Biotechnology Test. 3

1 / 21

1) How did biotechnology improve the production of phenylalanine for aspartame?

By extracting it from the milk of transgenic animals

By engineering bacteria for more efficient production

By using gene therapy to help humans synthesize it

By engineering plants to produce it in their leaves

The text gives this as an example where biochemists isolated and altered genes so that 'various bacteria could be genetically engineered to produce phenylalanine'.

2 / 21

2) When using *Agrobacterium* as a vector, where is the foreign gene first placed?

Directly into the plant's chromosome

Into the cell wall of the plant

Into the plant's mitochondria

Into the bacterium's plasmid

The text explains that in this technique, 'foreign DNA is inserted into the plasmid of the bacterium Agrobacterium,' which then infects the plant cell.

3 / 21

3) The gene for which hormone has been used to create larger transgenic fish?

An insect toxin

Luciferase

Antithrombin III

Bovine growth hormone

The text states that the gene for 'bovine growth hormone' has been used to produce larger fishes, cows, pigs, rabbits, and sheep.

4 / 21

4) What is the potential benefit of using cell suspension cultures to produce chemicals?

It allows chemicals to be synthesized from petroleum

It is a process that requires no genetic engineering

It reduces the need to import chemicals

It eliminates the need to farm the source plants

The text proposes that this method would make it 'no longer be necessary to farm plants for the purpose of acquiring the chemicals they produce'.

5 / 21

5) Who is credited with isolating the first restriction enzyme in 1970?

Kary B. Mullis

Hamilton O. Smith

Gottlieb Haberlandt

Frederick Sanger

The text credits 'Hamilton O. Smith, at Johns Hopkins University,' with isolating the first restriction enzyme in 1970.

6 / 21

6) Why are bone marrow stem cells ideal for *ex vivo* gene therapy?

They are the only cells affected by most genetic diseases

They divide to create a lasting supply of corrected cells

They do not have a nucleus, which simplifies the process

They are the easiest cells to remove from the body

The text explains that stem cells are preferred 'because they divide to produce more cells with same genes,' ensuring a continuous supply of corrected immune cells.

7 / 21

7) What type of bond initially forms between complementary 'sticky ends'?

Hydrogen bond

Disulphide bond

Ionic bond

Covalent bond

The complementary single-stranded 'sticky ends' initially associate via weak hydrogen bonds between the base pairs. DNA ligase then forms permanent covalent bonds.

8 / 21

8) Why are 'suicide genes' sometimes added to bacteria used for bioremediation?

To make them self-destruct after their job is done

To protect them from environmental toxins

To help them reproduce more quickly in the field

To make them work faster under pressure

The text explains this is a safety feature that caused the bacteria 'to self-destruct when the job had been accomplished'.

9 / 21

9) What special nucleotide terminates DNA synthesis in the Sanger sequencing method?

Ribonucleotides (NTPs)

Radioactive nucleotides

Deoxyribonucleotides (dNTPs)

Dideoxynucleotides (ddNTPs)

The text explains that the Sanger method is based on 'dideoxynucleosides triphosphates (ddNTP's)' which prevent the addition of further nucleotides, thus terminating the chain.

10 / 21

10) What ecological concern is mentioned regarding transgenic fish?

They require a highly specialized and expensive diet

They could disrupt natural ecosystems if they escape

They are not safe for human consumption

They reproduce much too slowly in captivity

The text specifically mentions the 'concern that they will upset or destroy natural ecosystems,' leading to them being kept in ponds with no escape route.

11 / 21

11) Which of these therapeutic products is made by transgenic plants, not bacteria?

Antibodies for treating genital herpes

Tissue plasminogen activator

Human growth hormone

Insulin

The text specifies that this antibody is made by transgenic 'soybeans' (a plant), not bacteria.

12 / 21

12) To create salt-tolerant plants, a gene for a channel protein was used to sequester Na+ ions into which organelle?

The chloroplast

The vacuole

The nucleus

The cytoplasm

The text explains that the channel protein transports Na+ 'across a vacuole membrane,' isolating the salt inside the vacuole to prevent it from interfering with metabolism.

13 / 21

13) What is the function of a particle gun in plant biotechnology?

To eliminate agricultural pests using metal pellets

To shoot DNA-coated particles into a plant callus

To rapidly sequence a plant's DNA sample

To inject therapeutic genes into human patients

The text describes this device as a method to introduce DNA into a plant tissue culture callus by bombarding it with DNA-coated microscopic metal particles.

14 / 21

14) What defines a 'palindromic sequence' in DNA?

Its nucleotides are arranged symmetrically in reverse order

It is a sequence that cannot be cut by enzymes

It consists only of A and T bases

It is always over 100 base pairs long

This is the definition given in the text, describing a sequence of four to eight base pairs where nucleotides are arranged symmetrically in reverse order.

15 / 21

15) What is complementary DNA (cDNA)?

The non-coding strand of a DNA double helix

DNA found exclusively within bacterial plasmids

A short piece of DNA used as a PCR primer

DNA synthesized from an mRNA template

The text defines cDNA as 'The DNA formed by this process' (synthesis from mRNA via reverse transcriptase).

16 / 21

16) What is the natural purpose of restriction enzymes within bacteria?

To synthesize messenger RNA

To defend against infecting viruses

To assist in bacterial conjugation

To repair mutations in their own DNA

The text states that restriction enzymes 'appear to serve as host-defence role because they chop up and inactivate... the DNA of infecting viruses'.

17 / 21

17) Bioleaching by engineered bacteria is used for what industrial purpose?

Cleaning up environmental oil spills

Extracting metals from low-grade ore

Producing biodegradable plastics

Removing sulfur from coal before burning

The text explicitly mentions that genetic engineering may 'enhance the ability of bacteria to extract copper, uranium and gold from low grade sources'.

18 / 21

18) What is a 'callus'?

A plant cell with its cell wall removed

A somatic embryo ready for germination

An undifferentiated group of dividing plant cells

The initial tissue piece used in plant culture

The text defines a 'callus' as an 'undifferentiated group of cells' produced when cultured cells begin dividing.

19 / 21

19) How is paternity determined using DNA fingerprinting?

The child must have no bands in common with the father

The child's DNA bands must be a perfect match to the father's

The father must have more DNA bands than the mother

The child's DNA contains a mix of bands from both parents

The text and image explanation show that the child's fingerprint is a composite, with half of the markers coming from the mother and half from the father.

20 / 21

20) What is the function of the enzyme reverse transcriptase?

It synthesizes RNA from a DNA template

It synthesizes DNA from an mRNA template

It cuts DNA at specific palindromic sequences

It joins two DNA fragments together

The text states that the 'synthesis of gene from mRNA is carried out by reverse transcriptase enzymes'.

21 / 21

21) What is the main benefit of automated DNA sequencing?

It uses significantly less DNA than manual methods

It can only be used for sequencing viral DNA

It requires no enzymes like DNA polymerase